Carolina Mudcats
| Carolina Mudcats Founded in 1959 Zebulon, North Carolina |
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Southern League (1991-2011) |
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| Minor league titles | |||
| League titles | 1995, 2003 | ||
| Division titles | 2008 | ||
| Owner(s)/Operated by: Steve Bryant (majority owner) and Carolina Mudcats Professional Baseball Club, Inc and Quint Studer. | |||
| Manager: TBA | |||
| General Manager: Joe Kremer | |||
The Carolina Mudcats are a minor league baseball team based in Zebulon, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the Carolina League, are the Single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians major-league club beginning in 2012.
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[edit] History
The Mudcats' origins date back to 1959, when the Chicago White Sox' Southern Association/Southern League affiliate began play in Charleston, South Carolina. During the 1960s the team moved several times, finally settling in Columbus, Georgia, in 1969. The club's arrival in Columbus marked the beginning of a period of relative stability. For the next two decades the team played its home games in Columbus' historic Golden Park as an affiliate of the Houston Astros. Following the 1988 season, new owner Steve Bryant held a contest among season-ticket holders to rename the team. As a result, in 1989 the team became known as the Columbus Mudcats. In 1991, Bryant moved the club to North Carolina and renamed it the Carolina Mudcats.[1] That move coincidentally allowed the team to retain its logo unchanged - a large C encircling a catfish.
Today, the Mudcats play in Five County Stadium in Zebulon, North Carolina. Built in 1991 and renovated in 1999, the park seats 6,500 fans. The park is located in Wake County, but it is near Nash, Johnston, Franklin and Wilson counties, hence the ballpark's name. In 2010, the Mudcats are celebrating their 20th year in Wake County. The Mudcats have claimed two Southern League championships since moving to North Carolina, the first in 1995 and the second in 2003 and have seen four different MLB teams play at Five County Stadium. The Mudcats received the Bob Freitas Award in 1996 for excellence in minor league baseball.
The AA affiliation will end following the 2011 season as the Reds will move their affiliate team to Pensacola, Florida, for the 2012 season, where they will be known as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. The Mudcats will become the new Class A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, as the team moves to the Carolina League, taking the place of the Kinston Indians.[2]
[edit] Straight to the Majors
During their years as an affiliate of the Florida Marlins, the Marlins had elected to bring many of their top prospects up to the major leagues directly from Carolina. (This is partially due to the geographic proximity of the Mudcats compared to the Marlins' former Class AAA club in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and partially due to the Pacific Coast League's reputation as a hitter-friendly league.) Some of the players who the Marlins have brought up directly from Carolina include Dontrelle Willis, Miguel Cabrera, Jason Vargas, Scott Olsen, Logan Kensing (who was brought up directly from Class A Jupiter the previous year), Chris Resop, Josh Johnson, Yorman Bazardo, Jeremy Hermida, Chris Volstad, and Robert Andino.
[edit] Current roster
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Carolina Mudcats roster
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Pitchers
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Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
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Manager Coaches
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[edit] Former Mudcats
Many Mudcats have reached the majors. These are some of the players that have gone on to be successful:
- Bronson Arroyo (1998)
- Daniel Barone (2007)
- Kris Benson (1997)
- Miguel Cabrera (2003)
- Ken Caminiti (1987)
- Brett Carroll (2007)
- Midre Cummings (1993)
- Chone Figgins (2001)
- Freddy García (1997)
- Harvey Garcia (2007)
- Jason Kendall (1994, 1995)
- Esteban Loaiza (1993, 1994)
- Juan Pierre (2000)
- Aníbal Sánchez (2006)
- Gaby Sanchez (2008)
- Doug Strange (1998)
- Ryan Tucker (2008)
- Juan Uribe (2001)
- Andy Van Slyke (1993)
- Rick Vanden Hurk (2007)
- Chris Volstad (2008)
- Dontrelle Willis (2003)
- Tim Wakefield (1991)
- Craig Wilson (1998)
[edit] References
- ^ Mudcats celebrate 15th year in Five County, Wilson Daily Times; retrieved February 2007
- ^ [1], Ballpark Digest; retrieved December 2010
[edit] External links
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| Triple-A | Double-A | Class A | Rookie |
| Columbus Clippers | Akron Aeros |
Carolina Mudcats Lake County Captains Mahoning Valley Scrappers |
AZL Indians DSL Indians |
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